Dr. Chu continues his attack on military retiree benefit funding

Since 02-11-05

From: Waspscpo@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 7:04 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients
Subject: Fw: Keep The Promise Alive In 2005: Dr. Chu continues his attack on military retiree benefit funding

AP writer Robert Burns' piece on raising military death pay is sidetracked by DOD Undersecretary David Chu and concludes in a second unsubstantiated attack in the last week on military retiree benefit funding.  Mr. Chu attempts to make a subjective case that if military retiree benefits would go away, DOD funding shortfalls would be resolved.
 
Without rational justification, Mr. Chu makes broad and sweeping statements identifying military retiree benefits as the enemy of our active force. Comments such as "Congress had gone too far in expanding military retiree benefits" and "They are starting to crowd out two things: first, our ability to reward the person who is bearing the burden right now in Iraq or Afghanistan," Chu said. "(Second), we are undercutting our ability to finance the new gear that is going to make that military person successful five, ten, 15 years from now." These ill founded statements reflect wild and careless examples that might come from a first year Pentagon staff officer rather than a seasoned high level staff bureaucrat.  Terms such as "reward the person..." as in pin a medal, "undercutting our ability" implying earned benefits are undeserved and a reckless waste of tax payer dollars, all display shallow, insensitive, and dangerous off the cuff remarks.
 
Rather than continue what appears a personal vendetta against military retirees, spouses, and widows, it would be more productive for Mr. Chu to compare military retiree benefit funding as a percentage of the gross national product (GNP), as a percentage of the DOD budget, or some other benchmark, and then apply a tangible measure to the spilled blood and body parts left on the battlefield by retired warriors, not to mention family and widow sacrifices.
 
It almost sounds whiny to say "benefits that apply mainly to retirees and their families are making it harder for the Pentagon to afford financial incentives" for today's military.  How hard is the sacrifice at the Pentagon?  Many of us served in the puzzle palace, we know the drill.  I wonder if Mr. Chu ever considered how "hard" it was at Normandy, in the jungles of the South Pacific, or the freezing battlefields of Korea as he sits in his office and denigrates these old warriors seeking benefits they earned? 
 
"A Promise Made Is A Promise Kept".  Remember that Mr. President?  We do and are still waiting for you and your Administration to stop kicking and shouting against every earned military benefit Congress attempts to restore. 
 
Love our warriors on Memorial Day, July 4th, Veterans day and other photo opportunities, other wise we're a pain in the a.., a wart that won't go away.  Get used to it, we're tired of the "use and abuse" attitude of our government.  We expect our due, nothing more, nothing less. 
 
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret
111 Overview Drive
Crestview, FL 32539
hmriley@cox.net
850-689-1818
 
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